Better targeted government support is needed to improve resilience and productivity in the fisheries sector, according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Noting that the healthy management of fish stocks is essential to millions of livelihoods, food security and environmental preservation, the intergovernmental organisation has deemed that 65% of fisheries support in 41 countries and territories risks encouraging overfishing and illegal fishing in the absence of effective fisheries management.
The OECD Review of Fisheries 2025 provides an updated assessment of the state of fisheries and aquaculture as well as the policies used to regulate and support fisheries in 2020-22. The fisheries and aquaculture sectors grew nearly three-fold in value between 2005 and 2022, reaching US$ 381 billion.
OECD’s review shows that total support to fisheries amounted to $10.7 billion annually on average in 2020-22 across the 41 countries and territories covered in the report, accounting for 79% of global fish production in the same period. Six economies make up 85% of this spending: China (36.1%), Japan (12.4%), the United States (11%), Canada (10.7%), EU member states (combined; 8%) and Brazil (6.4%).
“Sound fisheries and aquaculture management, including through policies tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, are fundamental for protecting local livelihoods, global food security and ocean ecosystems” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. “Better targeted fisheries support and better management are essential to improving the profitability and resilience of the sector.”
OECD said its review provides new evidence on the importance of fisheries management in keeping fish stocks healthy and productive for future generations, to inform the upcoming Third UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) process.
To make the sector more resilient, the review calls for redirecting funds currently allocated to subsidising fuel and the construction, acquisition and operation of vessels towards activities that are key to ensuring the sustainability of global fisheries. These activities include research on assessing the status of fish stocks, enforcing fishing laws and regulations and targeted time-bound income support for fishers affected by crises like such as marine heatwaves.
OECD insists that redirecting government support to investment in effective management and monitoring can also be a powerful tool to eradicate illegal fishing, which undermines the resilience of the sector, fishers’ wellbeing, the marine environment, fair competition in markets and tax revenue.
